Retirees could help out Lauderdale city staff

February 10, 2008|Jack Newton, Fort Lauderdale

"Audit slams city over federal funds" reads the front page of Tuesday's South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale is in danger of losing millions of dollars of housing grants because a Housing and Urban Development audit faults Fort Lauderdale for not meeting requirements. City officials apparently admitted they hadn't lived up to the letter of the requirements.

What is also of concern is the report that there aren't enough employees in the city housing department to keep the paperwork up. And Vice Mayor Carlton Moore is reported in the article to have said, "The problem with our staff is a lack thereof."

Have they ever heard of part-time employees? These can be hired as independent contractors with minimum or no fringe benefits. South Florida has an abundance of retired citizens who would work for hourly wages.

Retired citizens have loyalty to their city, would learn program requirements quickly, and many would be available to return to do similar work year after year. I dare say many would be overqualified. Part-time workers could also free up other employees to do the technical writing of reports.

Lacking funds to pay part-time employees, I'll bet some retirees would volunteer in a pinch. I'll bet part-time employees could be utilized in many departments. We have great richness of human resources in and around Fort Lauderdale. Let's use it.